KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research has proven that Malaysians in their thirties are now more likely to have arteries which are similar to a person aged seventy years old due to their lifestyles1. In addition to this, the National Heart Institute's (IJN) Director, Tan Sri Dr. Robaayah Zambahari stressed that individuals as young as in their 20s are diagnosed with heart disease2. According to Nestle, Malaysians are simply succumbing to heart disease at a younger age and this cannot be ignored any longer.
In fact, one out of two Malaysians are suffering from high cholesterol. The 2015 National Health and Morbidity Survey revealed that nearly 20 million Malaysians above the age of 18 years are at risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which may in turn lead to the development of heart disease. Heart disease manifests itself in many different forms – a heart attack, narrowing of arteries, abnormal heart rhythms, breaking down of the heart valve or heart muscle and degeneration of blood vessels, amongst others. Collectively they are known as cardiovascular heart disease, or CHD. However you can lower your risk of developing heart disease through diet and exercise.
One way to reduce the risk of heart disease is to manage your cholesterol levels by adding plant sterols to your diet. Consuming foods such as Nestle Omega Plus milk enriched with added plant sterols can block the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream. Plant sterols can also be found in grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds. However you may have to eat very large amounts of these items to have an effect on your cholesterol. For example, in order to get 1.2g of plant sterols daily to effectively reduce cholesterol, you will need to eat 255 tomatoes or 126 carrots! The easier way to get the sufficient plant sterols needed to lower your cholesterol level is to drink Nestle Omega Plus milk twice a day.
"Plant sterols in plants work in the same way as cholesterol in humans - as an essential nutrient for life present in all cells," said Dr. Alexandre Panchaud, R&D Manager at Nestle Singapore. "Plant sterols and cholesterol also possess a similar molecule structure and they travel along the digestive track and compete to be absorbed in our intestine. Plant sterols work by 'blocking' cholesterol from being absorbed. Cholesterol that is not absorbed will be excreted out as waste from our body," he explained further.
The challenge is ensuring that you consume the correct amount daily – "1.2g per day is the well accepted range for an effect of 7% cholesterol reduction," added Dr. Alexandre. His recommendation is to eat healthy "by consuming as much seeds, nuts, grain products, fruits and vegetables as possible and adding plant sterol enriched products to your diet like Nestle Omega Plus milk to reach an appropriate daily dose."
According to Heart UK, the Cholesterol Charity, plant sterols are effective in lowering cholesterol levels by up to 10% when taken at optimal doses and as part of low saturated fat diet in just over 3 weeks. In fact, they are considered to be the most effective single food that can lower cholesterol as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. It's no wonder then that plant sterols are often deemed to be a wonderful gift for your heart health.
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1 Renganayar, C. (2016, April 24). Young people, ageing arteries. New Straits Times Online.
Retrieved from http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/04/141124/young-people-ageing-arteries
2 Sharaimei, S.A.. (2014, Feb 24). Sakit jantung serang orang muda. Utusan Online.
Retrieved from http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/Dalam_Negeri/20140224/dn_07/Sakit-jantung-serang-orang-muda
ABOUT Nestle OMEGA PLUS®
Nestle OMEGA PLUS® is the only milk that has ACTICOL®, plant sterols that help lower cholesterol by blocking the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream. Nestle OMEGA PLUS® Milk also contains high calcium to keep bones strong. Just 2 servings of Nestle OMEGA PLUS® each day has been scientifically proven to lower cholesterol levels*. It is available in 150g, 600g and 1kg powder format, and ready-to-drink UHT format of 200ml six-pack cluster. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/NestleOmegaPlus.
*Thomsen AB, et al. Eur J Clin Nutr 2004; 58:860-870
About Nestle Malaysia
Nestle, the world's largest food and beverage manufacturer and a leader in Nutrition, Health and Wellness, is headquartered in Switzerland. Since 1866, Nestle has been committed to providing high quality, tasty, safe and nutritious products to our consumers, in line with our promise of Good Food, Good Life. Nourishing Malaysians since 1912, Nestle has earned the trust of our consumers through our quality brands and products, as well as our commitment to improve the lives of the communities in which we operate. At Nestle, our consumers are at the heart of everything we do. We aim to delight our consumers by offering the best quality products; staying true to our Swiss roots while maintaining our Halal excellence and integrity. To learn more about how we have been nourishing Malaysians for over a century, do visit www.nestle.com.my or our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NestleMalaysia.
Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160810/8521605083-a
